Spring-supported system for vehicles.



JPW. SAFFO'LD. SPRING SUPPORTED SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1914. Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 J. W. SAFPOLD.

SPRING SUPPORTED SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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J. SAFFOLDi SPRING SUPPORTED SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION I'ILED.TAN.20, 1914 Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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J. W. SAFPOLD. SPRING SUPPORTED SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAILZO, 1914. Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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fi 1T1 1111111111111 11 I WITH- I I u||ma" IHIHI I II III:

g E 1 E E Q B 1% Km} E I 5 E K E E I E 3 1 E I 15 'WmtnesJeJ 1% ""6JAMES WEBB SAFFOLD,

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SPRING-SUPPORTED SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES.

messes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915..

Application filed January 20, 1914. Serial No. 813,343.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES WEBB SAF- roLo, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-.Supported Systems for Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in spring-supported system forvehicles, and has for its object the provision of a system comprisingtwo independent sets of springs and an interposed frame; all of suitableco-. acting types, which shall compensate and distribute the shocksencountered by a travelingvehicle, such as an automobile.

There are originated, during'the movement of any vehicle. two sets ofshocks or strains of an entirely different character. which the ordinaryspring-support fails adequately to accommodate and distribute. Thesecomprise a relatively slow and gentle vertical movement, comparablesomewhat to a wave motion, which is imparted by the body to thespring-support, while the wheels impart a rough and uneven vibratorymotion to the axles and their supported springs. Recognizing the problempresented by these opposing forces, I have proceeded along the lines ofindividually meeting the two classes of vibrations by the meanshereinafter explained.

The improvements of my invention will be more readily understood bymaking reference to the accompanying drawings wherein t Figure 1 is aview in side elevation of an automobile chassis constructed in accord-'ance with my invention; the supported body being shown broken away, andthe wheels in bare outline. Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views ofmodifications of my improved device: the central portions of the chassisand body also being broken away. Figs. 4 and 5 respectively, arefragmentary front and rear views in elevation. and upon a slightlylarger scale, of the construction of Fig. 2', Fig. (i is a view uponl'astill larger scale, illustrating by mians of full and dotted lines. therespective vibratory motions imparted by the road and bodv to the sprinsupported system; the modifications of Fig. 1 being shown in fragmentaryside view, and Fig. 7 is a plan view of an automobile chassisconstructed in accordance with my invention; said View being centrallybroken away.

Throughoutthe several figures of the drawings, 1 have employed the samecharacter of reference to indicate similar parts.

In the drawings, the circles or represent the position of the wheelsassumed to be mounted upon the axles a, shown in crosssection, while thebody I) is suitably carried by the spring-supported system of my invention.- No details of these parts are shown, for the reason that myimprovements, while primarily applicable to automobiles, are adapted fordifferent classes of road vehicles.

Referring to Fig. 1, the frame 0, preferably formed of wood, is providedwith forged, upwardly curved terminals (Z, and is united by transversecross-pieces c. I have adopted the wooden frame. by reason of itsimportant function in distributing the vibration as well as its reducedweight. as compared with a metal frame, although my improvements are notnecessarily limited thereto. The frame is of the undei slung type; beingsupported from the axles a by means of relatively long semi -ell'ipticsprings f, secured to said axles by the clevises f. Links f" unite therear springs with the bowed ends (Z of the frame, while curved standards9 and links f intermediatcly mounted upon the frame, respectively serveto hang the frame from the ends of springs A secondary frame it mountingthe body Z), is supported upon the frame (7, by means of front andrearelliptic springs i. The front elliptie'springs 2', in turn. are supported from frame c, by means of the transverse strap or bar in. Therear springs 2', rest directly upon the frame (1 and are socured toframe it, by laterally-supporting elevises 1 (Fig. 7). The body itselfis carried by front and rear bolsters Those skilled in the art willrecognize that the elliptic springs are best adapted for accon'm'iodating the relatively slow vibratory movement of the body. andas these springs have no direct connection with the axles of thevehicle. the vibration imparted by the roadway is primarily met by thelong semi-r elliptic springs. which directly suspend the intermediate orprimary frame of my improved construction.

The embodiment of Fig. '2 will be readily understood; conforming veryclosely, as it does, to the construction already described. The onedifference which I may point out, is the provision of relatively longlinks 9, which permits the omission of the short links f for connectingthe rear springs. In Fig. 3, these long links 9 are retained for theinner ends of the springs; being duplicated upon the rear springs aswell. The frame is straight and is provided with front standards j forengaging the forward springs. This last construction affords a somewhatlonger wooden frame for the distribution of the various shocks andstrains, and is best adapted for commercial vehicles. Thesemodifications, however, are intended merely to indicate that certaindeviations from my preferred construction may readily be made to adaptmy improvements to different classes of vehicles.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown the wheels a provided with solid rubbertires a", which may readily supplant the ordinary pneumatic tires withmarked advantage, whenever my spring-supported system is employed. Theseviews, also show the transverse bolster is mounted upon the secondaryframe. which serves intermediately to support the body of the car.

In Fig. (3, I have endeavored to show graphically the distribution ofshock and vibration effected by my improved springsupportcd system orresilient frame. In order to illustrate this, I have supplied anenlarged fragmentary view of the rear portion of the system. which isshown in normal relation by full lines, ,as in Fig. 1. The outline ofthe wheel a is duplicated by dot ted lines in two vertically displacedpositions; the latter as elevated by an obstacle m, while the upwarddeflection of the spring 7 is indicated by the dotted lines y, y.Similarly the deflection of the elliptic spring i -is shown by two setsof dotted lines .2, .2,-

which indicate the compression caused di rectly by the body action.

Analyzing the construction above described, it is seen that it comprisesprimarily an under-slung frame preferably of wood, which may be verycheaply and rigidly constructed to meet the necessary strains; the samebeing suspended by relatively long semi-elliptic springs which servelargely to minimize and distribute the vi brations and shocks impartedby the roadway. The body of the vehicle, in turn, is mounted upon thisframe by front and rear sets 01' intermediate elliptic springs, whichcompensate slightly for the axle ac tion. but primarily accommodate theup and down movement of the body, or body action. By reason of theunderslung position of the intermediateframe, together with the supportof the body in a plane materially above said frame, by means of theelliptic springs, said body is permitted much freedom of movement withrespect to the frame. Its plane of support is such that the body willnot telescope within the intermediate frame during the. driving of thevehicle, although the body is not n'iaterially raised above the plane ofthe axles. Accordingly. I am 'enablcd to produce a chassis of suchinherent, easy-riding qualities that net only is it practicable toeliminate pneumatic tires from the wheels, but the body itself issubjected to far less vibration than with any other system of supportknown to me. Accordingly, the wood (or, if desired. pressed steel) framemay be cheaply and serviceably constructed to serve intermediatcly as ashock distributer, and the lives of the running gear and body arecorrespondingly extended with distinct advantage to the riding qualitiesof the vehicle.

Ilaving now described the preferred constructions embodying myinvention. 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, thefollowing:

i. A spring-supported system for vehicles, comprising a rigidunder-slung frame, a set of superposedsprings whereon said frame ishung. a set of intermediate springs supported by the frame and avehicle-body mounted upon the last named set of springs in a planesuliiciently elevated above the frame to avoid the telescopic action ofthe body within said frame, substantially as set forth. I

2. In a spring-supported system for vehicles. the combination with arunning gear including the vehicle axles. of relatively longsemi-elliptic springs mounted adjacent to the ends of said axles. aframe hung from said s rings and a plurality of intermediate springsmounted directly upon said frame and independent of the axles. forsupporting the vehicle-body in a plane snliicieutly elevated above theframe to avoid the telescopic action of the bodywithin said frame,substantially as set forth.

3. In a spring-supported system for vehicles. the combination with therunning gear, including the vehicle-axles, of a rigid rectangular woodenframe, sets of semielliptic springs supporting said frame below theplane of the axles, sets of intermediate elliptic springs mounted uponthe frame. and a vehicle body carried by said intermediate. springs in aplane approximately that of the axles, but elevated above said frame.substantially as set forth. I 1

4. In a spring-supported system for vehicles, the combination with therunning gear, including the vehicle-axles. of long send-elliptic springssupported by said axles.

a rigid intermediate frame hung below the axles upon said springs andindependent sets of springs carried by the frame and adapted to supportthe vehicle-ln'idy in a plane sllfficiently elevated above the frame toavoid the telescopic action of the body within said Wholly supported bysaid elliptic springs in frame, substantlally as set forth. a planesufficiently elevated above the frame 5. In a spring-supported systemfor veto avoid the telescopic action of the body hicles, the combinationwith the running Within said frame, substantially as set forth.

5 gear including the vehicle-axles, of rela- In testimony'whereof I donow afiix my 1:)

tively long semi-elliptic springs mounted signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. thereon, a rectangular Wooden frame hung JAMES WEBBSAFFOLD. from said springs, link connections there- Witnesses: for,elliptic front and rear springs super- A. C. KNIGHT,

10 posed upon the frame, and a vehicle-body ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE.

